(S01E01) Uhm, yea.
Look, I admire Stan Lee. Back in the early 1960's he took Marvel Comics, which was in its death throes at the time, and turned it completely around by introducing a whole new group of superheroes, including such mainstays as Spider-man, The Hulk, The X-Men, and The Fantastic Four. These people didn't just have abilities beyond those of mortal men: they had feelings and hearts and realized that their powers came with a price. As Uncle Ben said to Peter Parker 'With great power comes great responsibility'. So, Mr. Lee had every right to become the icon that he is today.
But Stan . . . Stan, Stan, Stan. What the heck were you thinking when you created Who Wants to be a Superhero? Don't get me wrong, the concept is good: enlist normal people to dress up as original comic book heroes (with self-made costumes) and compete in an elimination tournament where the winner would get their own comic book and an original movie on the Sci-Fi Channel. However, the outcome that premiered was, well, not very good at all.
It was the 'superheroes' who where chosen that left the sour taste in my mouth. They were all fake. I wouldn't be surprised if some of them were professional actors (especially Disk Jockey Chris Watters as Major Victory. What a freaking ham!). It was also the editing of the show. It felt like much of it was scripted out, possibly because some of the original gatherings the heroes had just didn't pan out. One scene in particular that looked extremely fake was when the heroes walk through a garment factory to head towards their 'secret' lair. The scene of two Asian women arguing in their own language while these costumed idiots walk in and ask for the freight elevator just seemed like something you'd see on Reno 911.
Also, what the heck was that whole thing about Stan not being involved directly with the candidates. Everytime he spoke to them it was through a video screen. I personally felt that it was a bit humiliating for the contestants to be speaking to a television monitor all of the time. Gosh, even Donald Trump, who wields a considerably larger amount of power and money than Lee does, speaks to his candidates directly on The Apprentice.
Okay, the show itself. There were two eliminations during the premiere episode. The first took place right before the superheroes were about to enter their new headquarters. This was when Tobias Trost (aka Levity) was let go after a spy inserted into the group of heroes found out that Trost would create action figures of himself to sell for hundreds of dollars. Superheroes don't do it for the profit, Tobias!
The next elimination took place after their first assignment, which was to change from their real clothes to their costumes out in public. But it reality that wasn't the main purpose of the assignment. The actual goal was to see how many of these so-called heroes actually helped a little girl who was lost. There were two items here that told me that most of these men and women could never be true superheroes. First, they wore their civilian garb, but brought their costumes in bags. Hello? Didn't any of them think of wearing their costumes UNDER their normal clothes, just like Spider-man and Superman. The other thing was how many of these people missed the little lost girl. Didn't any of them notice the body mike she was wearing? Seesh!
The elimination took place on the roof of the heroes' lair. Stan presided over the proceedings from a video billboard across the way. He chose the heroes Nitro G (who changed his costume in public), Monkey Woman (who glanced at the lost girl, but kept on going) and The Iron Enforcer (who just really wants to kill everything) to explain why they should remain on the show. Monkey Woman gave a tearful speech on why she should remain, while the other two heroes pretty much apologized for their mistakes and moved on. After Stan took their arguments into consideration he let go Nitro G.
My wife, who loves to watch reality shows, said this about Who Wants to be a Superhero, 'This is the stupidest reality show ever made in the world.' My sentiments exactly, my dear.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. on 'Faces of America' and the Beer Summit
Six Reasons Why '24' Has Jumped the You-Know-What
The Super Bowl Commercials: The Best
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-28-2006 @ 2:02AM
Keith L. Dick said...
Anyone say the Word: *SUX!!!!!!!!!!!!!*...
Think I'll start my own series: "Homeless Super Hero's"... This would prolly be a bit more real...
But first I have to finish the series: "Monster Guitar Amps" after I get done with: "Monster Kitty-Kats from Hell" and "Purple City TriCycles*...
Reply
7-28-2006 @ 4:34AM
tara said...
Hey...its good for a 'laugh'....
oh and i am rooting for Fat Momma all the way!! :)
Reply
7-28-2006 @ 6:28AM
ahdonus said...
Oh, I thought it was really cute. Of course it was scripted, and schlocky, and all of that. It was pure Stan Lee, and I thought it was well worth watching. It is a great send-up of reality shows that take themselves too seriously.
And, you have to give Stan Lee a break for not being with the "heroes" in person. The guy's in his mid-eigties!
Reply
7-28-2006 @ 9:03AM
G said...
While, yes, it was the cheesiest show I've seen in a while, I couldn't help laughing out loud when Mr. Victory did his goofy run--pointing at birds, jazz handing it and then pretending to take flight to the finish line. And when he told that little girl to "climb into my arms" the look of fear that came over her for a second was priceless. Also enjoyed Fat Momma loosing her doughnuts as she ran and Monkey Woman thinking that leaping into a tree to change was the best idea. I get the feeling that Stan thought this whole thing was rather asinine but can't hurt to put some money in his pocket, especially if he doesn't even have to show up and can do the whole thing from an office somewhere. And it's not like there's anything else that great on Thursday nights at 9.
Reply
7-28-2006 @ 9:41AM
James said...
What's amusing to me, being a comic book fan, is that DC Comics has a character named Major Victory whose various incarnations have all met death. One was decapitated and the latest had his arm ripped off and was beaten to death with it.
One can only wish the same to this one.
Reply
7-28-2006 @ 9:43AM
KenMo said...
Fake superheros? Yeah, let's get some real ones in there.
I think this show is suprisingly original. Major Victory is playing the part. A ham? Yes. But he's acting like a comic book superhero.
I think Iron Enforcer will become a bad guy. He will get cut and turn into an Arch Villian.
Do all "Reality" shows have to fit your vision?
Reply
7-28-2006 @ 10:31AM
tr said...
i thought this show was fun, one of those stupid things. and it's great watching stan lee try to be like donald trump or something, when he's yelling at them, or disappointed at them. you just gotta laugh, it's so forced.
anyway, the iron enforcer stated that he would KILL PEOPLE. seriously, why wasn't that guy kicked off?
Reply
7-28-2006 @ 10:43AM
Happy Steve said...
I was VERY close to writing this one off also, until I busted out laughing seeing Major Vanity do his little dancing/running thing. *pause by fountain, do a little jig, continue*. That scene alone lets me give the second episode a chance.
Reply
7-28-2006 @ 10:44AM
dhamon said...
The video screen? C'mon, even the Justice League got their info from their world montiors talking to heads of state. Stan's just playing the part of the Big Cheese.
I do have a problem with the choices Stan made however. The "Iron Enforcer" certainly doesn't seem like a superhero at all. He should have been gone from the get-go.
Reply
7-28-2006 @ 2:01PM
RAB said...
Look, Stan is a really great guy and I have nothing but good to say about him on a personal level. But anyone who thinks this show was his idea, or that he's making the decisions, or is doing *anything* other than awkwardly reading prescripted material that was written for him, is just buying into network hype. This show is completely unreal and overscripted, and Stan is only there for his name recognition among the general public as a "comic book creator" to lend an aura of faux authenticity to the project.
The show itself is deeply confused about what it wants to be on several different levels, just like Sci-Fi's previous attempts at "reality" programming. It's too bad, because there were some flashes of real humor along the way suggesting that a more sincere approach could have produced a genuinely fun show.
Reply
7-28-2006 @ 4:21PM
El Cleaner said...
I swear I have a video of cell phone girl doing porn. It is her, no doubt in my mind.
Reply
7-30-2006 @ 10:13AM
MadTheSwine said...
Absolutely loved it.Major Victory was very entertaining.Thought the utility belts on Fat Momma and Monkey Woman were hilarious.Cant wait for the next episode and next season hopefully.
Reply
7-30-2006 @ 4:42PM
Matt Haley said...
Sorry to burst your bubble, but the contestants are 100% real. A few of them had soem stage experience, and "Creature" is a dancer who has toured with the STOMP troupe, but none of them were 'cast' or 'hired', they are all comic-book fans who genuinely created their characters. The show was originally supposed to be 90 minutes long, but we were forced to cut it down to under 60. Keep watching...!
Reply
8-02-2006 @ 8:36PM
technomyth said...
Oh come on. Do you read comics? Not every superhero wears their costumes underneath their clothes. Not even spider-man always have his costume underneath. Add that to the fact that it's clearly middle of summer and some of the heroes have long sleeved garbs makes it impractical. Imagine a superhero taking of their normal clothes to reveal... sweatstained backs and damp pits. I thought so. Costumes under clothes may work well in cartoon land, but IRL not so much.
Add that to the fact that NO ONE is a REAL superhero, there has to be some roleplaying. Stan Lee appearing in the big screen? Purely playing his role of bigwig as someone else mentioned. And the way some of the contestants acted? Roleplaying.
I'm sure that many people wouldn't be into it if they watched this expecting a "reality" tv show. It's more like the whole show pokes a jibe on other reality tv shows, which is filled with melodrama and whatnot. For those that haven't watched it, keep this in mind: "This is not a show about a gathering of superheroes to choose the best superhero... this is a gathering of superhero FANS to choose who best roleplays their superhero."
Reply
8-02-2006 @ 10:06PM
eric said...
I liked it. I stumbled on it last night by accident but i didn't see the end. Google brought me here. I see Nitro bought it.
I liked Major Victory because i think he gets it. It's all about character and action poses. His head swivel after he picked up that girl was brilliant.
I like Tyveculus because he's in it for his kids. Very poignant part.
I don't read comics but i like the batman movies. Give these ordinary Joes a billion dollars and i think they would be the next batman.
Except cell phone girl. i mean really, what the hell is that
Reply
8-03-2006 @ 11:45AM
Edith said...
"Hello!" What reality show isn't scripted?! It's great for laughs! I like it!
Reply
8-03-2006 @ 12:23PM
mistress victory said...
My son and I love this show, it is very entertaining and so corny, you just have to laugh. I would've loved if they picked Ice Bitch, who was one of the try-outs for the show. Her catch phrase was hysterical. You can catch it on a repeat of the very first show, i don't think i can repeat it on here. Great show.I will keep watching. I'm looking foward getting this on DVD when available. Major Victory gets my vote so far."Be a winner...not a weiner" love it!
Reply
8-11-2006 @ 2:39AM
Karolyn said...
I'm not really into comics, but I love superheroes. Love superhero movies.
I think this reality show is awesome. For once it's actually about a person's character, not about who 'plays the game' the best, or who can lie, cheat or sabotage their way to the winner's circle.
And I loooove the fact that Iron Enforcer is now Dark Enforcer. Perfect! You could tell, just by his reaction when he was eliminated that he wasn't 'superhero material'.
Before she was eliminated, Monkey Woman was my favorite. I also like Feedback, and Major Victory is hilarious.
Reply